Understanding The Value Of A College Degree

Why is​ college so important? Why should I bother to​ go? These are questions that many young adults ask upon their impending high school graduations. There are many answers to​ these questions, and many things that demonstrate the value of​ a​ college degree. Deciding whether or​ not to​ go to​ college is​ a​ decision that can send your life on a​ different course, a​ course that can mean security, or​ a​ course that mean lifelong uncertainty. That is​ why everyone should consider going to​ college. There is​ a​ way for virtually everyone to​ attend, and no one should believe that they are incapable of​ attending and learning firsthand just how far having that degree can take them.

So, why should you go to​ college? The obvious reason is​ so that you will be able to​ get a​ secure job that pays well. Those without college degrees tend to​ make almost half of​ those with them, and often struggle to​ find good jobs that pay well enough to​ support families, or​ even offer health benefits. Having a​ college degree also means more stability in​ your job down the road. Organizations are willing to​ invest more in​ their college educated employees, and they are often resistant to​ layoffs or​ downsizing.

The value of​ a​ college degree is​ not merely in​ the money. Taking part in​ the dynamic college experience is​ a​ once in​ a​ lifetime opportunity, and everything that comes with it​ helps to​ shape young individuals into adults. Being on your own at​ college helps you to​ learn responsibility, accountability, how to​ work with groups of​ people, how to​ work independently, and encourages time management and organizational skills. All of​ these things will help to​ serve you in​ your professional and personal life forever. You will have the tools to​ be a​ better employee, a​ better spouse, a​ better parent, and a​ more responsible citizen. Another point of​ value about earning a​ college degree is​ that you will also have the opportunity to​ establish contacts with instructors and classmates that can help you later on in​ graduate school or​ in​ your career.

The value of​ a​ college degree extends beyond the person that earns it. Sure, you will make more money and have health benefits that will help you to​ be a​ healthier individual and thus potentially live longer, but you will also be contributing to​ the welfare of​ society as​ a​ whole when you go to​ college. Though it​ might be hard to​ conceive of, the more college-educated individuals that are out in​ the world, the better off everyone is. Often, individuals with college degrees are more civic-minded. That means that they are more apt to​ contribute to​ charitable causes, volunteer, and commit time and money to​ other forms of​ philanthropy. Attending college broadens your scope of​ the world. You learn to​ see beyond the corners of​ your house, your family, your town, and learn to​ understand the diversity of​ the world. For these same reasons, those with college educations are also more inclined to​ vote, and know what and whom they are voting for. All of​ these factors help to​ contribute to​ a​ society working to​ lessen poverty, crime, and disease, which ultimately is​ a​ benefit to​ everyone.

When making the decision about attending college, know that the earlier you go, the better. Though it​ is​ perfectly plausible to​ attend college after several years of​ working, you will find that you will have a​ harder time proving yourself without a​ college degree. Depending on the type of​ job you are seeking, you will have a​ more difficult time getting job interviews, and you will probably have a​ more difficult time promoting yourself in​ an​ interview. So as​ you can see, the value of​ a​ college degree isn't just about making large piles of​ money, or​ being the CEO of​ a​ corporation, it​ is​ about developing yourself, learning about the world around you, and embracing diversity. With those traits developed, you will enter the workforce with not only a​ college degree, but you will also be equipped with the ability to​ be a​ diligent, motivated, open-minded, and compassionate employee and person.